Valve assembly for an electronic faucet

Abstract

An electronic faucet includes a spout, a fluid supply conduit supported by the spout, and a valve assembly including an electrically operable valve. A controller is coupled to the valve assembly and includes a processor operative to control the electrically operable valve to control fluid flow through the fluid supply conduit. The controller includes a port in communication with the processor, the port being releasably coupled to electronics of a secondary device.

1 . A faucet system including:
 an electronic faucet including a spout, a fluid supply conduit supported by the spout, a valve assembly having an electrically operable valve in fluid communication with the fluid supply conduit, and a controller operative to control the electrically operable valve to control fluid flow through the fluid supply conduit, the controller including a port, the controller and the port being mounted to the valve assembly; and   a secondary dispensing device including a spout, a fluid supply conduit supported by the spout, and electronics operably coupled to the port of the controller of the electronic faucet, the controller being operative to at least one of control or power the electronics of the secondary dispensing device via the port to control fluid flow through the fluid supply conduit of the secondary dispensing device.   
     
     
         2 . The faucet system of  claim 1 , wherein the electronics include an electrically operable valve positioned to regulate fluid flow through the fluid supply conduit of the secondary dispensing device. 
     
     
         3 . The faucet system of  claim 2 , wherein the secondary dispensing device includes a proximity sensor configured to detect an object near the spout of the secondary dispensing device and to transmit a detection signal to the controller through the port, and the controller is operative to control the electrically operable valve of the secondary dispensing device based on the detection signal. 
     
     
         4 . The faucet system of  claim 3 , wherein the proximity sensor includes a capacitive touch sensor operative to detect an object contacting the spout of the secondary dispensing device. 
     
     
         5 . The faucet system of  claim 1 , further including an electrical cable routed from the port of the controller to the electronics of the secondary dispensing device to route power and control signals from the controller of the electronic faucet to the electronics of the secondary dispensing device, the electrical cable including a connector that is releasably coupled to the port. 
     
     
         6 . The faucet system of  claim 5 , wherein the controller includes a printed circuit board coupled to the valve assembly, and the processor and the port are mounted to the printed circuit board. 
     
     
         7 . The faucet system of  claim 6 , wherein the valve assembly includes an outer housing having an opening, the printed circuit board and the electrically operable valve are positioned in the outer housing, and the port is accessible through the opening of the outer housing. 
     
     
         8 . The faucet system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is operably coupled to a power source for powering the electronic faucet, and the controller powers the electronics of the secondary dispensing device from the power source via the port. 
     
     
         9 . The faucet system of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary dispensing device includes at least one of a soap dispenser or a beverage dispenser. 
     
     
         10 . The faucet system of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary dispensing device includes an electronic faucet. 
     
     
         11 . The faucet system of  claim 1 , wherein the valve assembly comprises:
 a valve housing including an interior region for receiving a fluid;   a solenoid valve;   a temperature sensor positioned outside the interior region; and   a heat transfer device extending between the temperature sensor and the interior region.   
     
     
         12 . The faucet system of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the solenoid valve includes a solenoid coil and a moveable valve member operably coupled to the solenoid coil; and   the controller includes an electronic circuit board coupled to the valve housing, and a processor mounted to the electronic circuit board to control the solenoid valve, the solenoid coil being mounted to the circuit board.   
     
     
         13 . A faucet system including:
 a primary dispensing device including a fluid supply conduit, a valve assembly having an electrically operable valve in fluid communication with the fluid supply conduit, and a controller operative to control the electrically operable valve to control fluid flow through the fluid supply conduit, the controller including a port; and   a secondary dispensing device including electronics operably coupled to the port of the controller of the electronic faucet, the controller being operative to at least one of control or power the electronics of the secondary dispensing device via the port.   
     
     
         14 . The faucet system of  claim 13 , wherein the secondary dispensing device includes a spout, a fluid supply conduit supported by the spout, and the controller is operative to control fluid flow through the fluid supply conduit of the secondary dispensing device. 
     
     
         15 . The faucet system of  claim 13 , wherein the controller and the port are mounted to the valve assembly. 
     
     
         16 . The faucet system of  claim 13 , wherein the electronics of the secondary dispensing device include an electrically operable valve positioned to regulate fluid flow through a fluid supply conduit of the secondary dispensing device. 
     
     
         17 . The faucet system of  claim 13 , further including an electrical cable routed from the port of the controller to the electronics of the secondary dispensing device to route power and control signals from the controller of the primary dispensing device to the electronics of the secondary dispensing device, the electrical cable including a connector that is releasably coupled to the port. 
     
     
         18 . The faucet system of  claim 13 , wherein the controller is operably coupled to a power source for powering the primary dispensing device, and the controller powers the electronics of the secondary dispensing device from a power source via the port. 
     
     
         19 . The faucet system of  claim 13 , wherein the primary dispensing device includes an electronic faucet. 
     
     
         20 . The faucet system of  claim 13 , wherein the secondary dispensing device includes at least one of an electronic faucet, a soap dispenser or a beverage dispenser.